Behind The Springs: What Is Community Development?

Press release from the City of Colorado Springs:

April 5, 2021

In this episode

It’s National Community Development Week and you’re not alone if you don’t know exactly what that means! Listen in as we talk about affordable housing, homelessness and helping the most vulnerable in our community. By the end, you’ll understand why it’s so important to thank our many partners making a difference in Colorado Springs.

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More about Community Development

What is Community Development Week?

National Community Development Week is an opportunity to showcase the many outstanding projects the City’s community development partners accomplish each year. From new affordable housing developments to improved neighborhood safety and ADA access, as well as programs assisting our most vulnerable residents.

What is Community Development?

Community development in its broadest sense is about bringing people together to create solutions to community problems. The Community Development Division of the City of Colorado Springs supports the city’s efforts to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all people in Colorado Springs. We help the mayor achieve his goal of creating and preserving 1,000 affordable housing units a year. To accomplish this goal and others, we partner with local nonprofits, housing developers, and public agencies. Every year, we work with our stakeholders to assess community needs and target grant funds to provide services, neighborhood infrastructure and economic development to help our community realize its potential as a vibrant, inclusive, affordable and desirable place to live.

Our division manages entitlement grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that include the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs. In 2020 the Community Development Division released HomeCOS: Housing our Future (read it here), the City’s affordable and plan. A progress report will be released in April 2021.

Fast Facts

• Over 24,000 residents assisted per year (3 year average)
• Our partners are generating $1.7 billion in local economic impact
• We received $5,015,045 from HUD in 2021 through the following programs:
  • $3,168,111 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
  • $1,584,300 in HOME Investment Partnership (HOME)
  • $262,634 in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
• We manage a $29 million loan portfolio with over 50 affordable multifamily properties
• Staff manages 35-40 projects a year with over 30 partner organizations
• Nine full time staff members – 100% grant funded
• Managing over $24 million in additional funds through the CARES Act and other relief programs to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Projects

• Greccio Housing’s Atrium at Austin Bluffs, a 54 unit senior affordable housing development
• Exponential Impact’s Survive & Thrive business assistance program targeted to entrepreneurs in SE Colorado Springs
• The Springs Rescue Mission’s recently completed kitchen and dining facility
• Sunshine Home Care’s innovative solution to senior housing

To find out more visit ColoradoSprings.gov/CommunityDevelopment.

More from Behind the Springs

• Episode 55: Leave No Trace
• Episode 54: Meet the new Colorado Springs Fire Chief
• Episode 53: Brothers make history in COS
• Episode 52: Diversity Discussion
• Episode 51: Checking in with the mayor
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Episode 56 What is Community Development

This press release was produced by the City of Colorado Springs. The views expressed here are the author’s own.